Casper Man Denies Aggravated Assault, Felonious Restraint Charges

A Casper man has pleaded not guilty after being accused of conspiring with two others to assault and restrain another man in late December over a drug deal.

Adam Ray McClure, 22, is charged with aggravated assault and felonious restraint. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of both charges.

Charging documents say McClure, along with Ryan Heidekrueger and Shane Connely, went to the victim's home on Christmas Day. The victim was allegedly pistol-whipped repeatedly, his television was smashed with a baseball bat, and he was put into a red SUV.

The three men then asked the victim to show them were an alleged drug dealer was living. When the victim said he didn't know, the group drove him around the area near Wyoming Medical Center, allegedly beating him in an effort to get the information from him.

The victim walked home at the conclusion of the incident. His jaw later had to be wired shut, as it was fractured and surgery was necessary to repair it.

The victim did not report the alleged assault to police until Jan. 2. When asked about the delay, the victim told a detective that he had testified against a gang member in a homicide case in another city, and an order to kill the victim was put out by that gang as a result.

"Since McClure and Heidekrueger were involved in gang activity, [the victim] was hesitant to report this assault," the affidavit states.

Connely was interviewed by a detective in late January, and Heidekrueger was interviewed in early February.

Connely was pulled over at about 2:15 a.m. on Feb. 17 for having no visible registration. He was arrested for driving with a suspended license, and his vehicle -- a maroon Chevrolet Suburban -- was towed.

The detective later searched the Suburban and collected a black baton and a biological swab as evidence.

McClure was interviewed by police on March 6. He was released afterward so that all the information gathered during the lengthy investigation could be reviewed.